Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Barbara Buono ranks among the state Legislature's "environmental heroes" in a new report out today. Buono is need here making a stop in West New York as part of a statewide bus tour to greet voters.
(Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono was among a handful of New Jersey lawmakers dubbed "environmental heroes" in a report card released today — but environmentalists voiced concern over the state Legislature's marks as a whole.

Buono, a state senator from Middlesex County, scored 94 percent, placing her in the top 10. She ranks No. 3 in the Senate.

As a whole, the state's 120 lawmakers received an average score of 48 percent — with Democrats at 59 percent and Republicans at 32. Individual scores ranged from zero to 102.

Those numbers paint a troubling picture for New Jersey's environment, said David Pringle, the federation's campaign director.

"The scorecard documents the Legislature has lost its way and is rejecting New Jersey's long, proud history of environmental protection," Pringle said.

A view of the statehouse in Trenton.Emile Wamsteker/Bloomberg

The report comes in the midst of an election year when the governor's office and all the seats in the Legislature are up for grabs. It scores lawmakers based on how they voted on 18 environmental bills — such as a fracking waste ban and offshore wind legislation — since 2010, when Republican Gov. Chris Christie and new legislative leadership took office. Extra credit or demerits were given for sponsorships, key committee votes and taking a leadership role.

Ranking at the bottom were mostly Republicans, including Assemblyman Parker Space and Sen. Steven Oroho, both Sussex County lawmakers who scored zero. One Democrat — Sen. Paul Sarlo of Bergen County — also received a zero.

On the other end of the spectrum, 13 lawmakers scored more than 80 percent. Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex), Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) all scored more than 100.

"We should all get a 100," said McKeon, whose 102 was the highest score on the list. "But frankly in the last three years, our focus has shifted away from environmental responsibility."

Sen. Kip Bateman, a Somerset County lawmaker with a score of 82, was the only Republican to make the heroes list.

"The environment should not be a partisan issue," Bateman said at a press conference in Trenton today announcing the survey's results. "We have a real responsibility to leave our air cleaner, our water cleaner and our communities cleaner for the next generation."

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Buono, who faces an uphill battle against Christie in the governor's race, said she was "proud" of her place on the list.

"The days of rolling back regulations and shrinking from responsibility must come to an end," she said in a statement. "Protecting our environment must be our priority."

Still, legislative leadership, for the most part, received low scores. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) received a 33, while Assemblyman Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) received a 41. Of the other four top leadership posts, only one scored more than 63: Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who received a 97 percent.

Jeff Tittel, the New Jersey director of the Sierra Club environmental group, said report helps show that the state Legislature "has been a failure" on environmental issues — especially in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

"We hope this scorecard will serve as a wakeup call to legislators and voters," said Janet Tauro, the New Jersey Environmental Federation's board chair.

The report was made public the same day the state Senate's environment and enegry committee advanced a measure that would ask New Jersey voters to dedicate $200 million each year for open space preservation. Lawmakers will have to rush to get the question on the ballot in November.